PJ Harvey, the only artist to have been awarded the Mercury Prize twice, will be the special guest at this year’s UK Songwriting Festival at Bath Spa University.
The annual event will be held from 15 to 20 August at the University’s picturesque Newton Park Campus. Applicants are sought from all backgrounds and musical tastes to take part in the five-day residential course.
PJ Harvey has a place in Rolling Stone’s Greatest Albums of All Time, won ‘Outstanding Contribution to Music’ at the NME Awards in 2011, and in 2013 was awarded an MBE for services to music.
On making the announcement, festival director Chris Blanden said: ‘I’m really pleased that PJ Harvey will be joining us this year to talk about her life as a songwriter. This will be an incredible experience for the students.’
The tutors working at this year’s festival are some of the most acclaimed songwriters in pop, rock, country and folk: Boo Hewerdine, Kim Richey, Andy White, Julianne Regan and Jez Ashurst.
Tutor Jez Ashurst, who has written songs for Leona Lewis, Will Young and Boyzone, said:
‘It’s fantastic news for this amazing festival. Not only do our students learn from the tutors, they learn from each other.’
This year’s festival is aimed at songwriters who already have some experience and have written more than 25 songs. There are only 40 places available and demand is high, so a selective admissions process is in place.
Applicants are asked to apply for the course via an online submission form at www.uksongwritingfestival.com and are asked to send links to three original compositions, as well as demonstrating how long they have been writing for, how many songs they have written, the styles they like to write in, their influences and favourite song.
The cost of the course is £1,280 for tuition, accommodation and evening meals or £900 for tuition and evening meals only. The deadline for applications is Tuesday 30 June and applicants will receive notification of acceptance by Friday 3 July.
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